Meiningen. Darmstadt G.G. Lange.

Title

Meiningen. Darmstadt G.G. Lange.

Description

Very nice general view of Meiningen in Thuringia. Drawn by L. Rohbock, engraved by J. Richter, published by Lange.

ca. 1840

Artist

Lange Druck und Verlag

Historical Description

Meiningen is a district town in the Franconian-influenced south of Thuringia. Emperor Otto II gave his royal estate "Meiningen in the Meininger Mark" to the monastery "Peterskirche" in Aschaffenburg in 982 in Capua. According to current knowledge, the royal estate and the village of Meiningen with the parish church "St. Martin" were located near a ford through the Werra river in what is now the south of the old town. Around 1000, the construction of a church began, which still exists today as the town church of St. Mary after several reconstructions. In 1230 Meiningen was first mentioned as a town (civitas) in a document. The until then almost undeveloped area between the market, the castle and the lower gate was completely built on by the end of the 13th century. Between 1232 and 1243, monks laid four well pipes to supply fresh water to the town. In the course of the following decades, Meiningen repeatedly rebelled against the increasing levies and curtailments of rights against Bishop Gerhard von Schwarzburg. In the 15th century, the textile industry, brewing, metal crafts and trade gained in importance and caused a gradual economic upswing in Meiningen. In 1542, the town and the office of Meiningen came to the neighboring Counts of Henneberg through an exchange with the office of Mainberg. In 1544, the Reformation was introduced in Meiningen, as in the entire Henneberg region. After the Henneberg counts died out in 1583, Meiningen and the county became part of the Wettin Duchy of Saxony.